Winner: Philip Harper
2. David Thornton
3. Nicholas Childs
In front of every great band there is a great conductor inspiring them to musical glory. And in 2019 there was little doubt that the conductor who did that better than anyone else was Philip Harper at Cory.
All this and he continued to spearhead Brass Bands England's Artistic Development programme and have time to travel the musical globe to pass on his thoughts and tips.
The contest record of the partnership speaks for itself, but it was the way in which he went about doing it in a manner that always held your interest with its calculated risk taking and ever-inventive musical thought processing that stood out.
This year it was near flawless — next year it could be even better...
He gained 8 first choice preferences and was mention in dispatches by all the judges.
A much closer battle for the podium places (as you may have expected) but David Thornton's indefatigable musical efforts certainly caught the attention of the judges (with 2 first choice preferences) as did the continued excellence of Prof Nicholas Childs in reinvigorating Black Dyke.
it was the way in which he went about doing it in a manner that always held your interest with its calculated risk taking and ever-inventive musical thought processing that stood out4BR Editor Iwan Fox
Past Winners:
2018: Arsene Duc
2017: Ingar Bergby
2016: Philip Harper
2015: Philip Harper
2014: Nicholas Childs
2013: Philip Harper
2012: Allan Withington
2011: David King
2010: Ian Porthouse
2009: Robert Childs
2008: Robert Childs
2007: Allan Withington
2006: Allan Withington
2005: Nicholas Childs
2004: Ray Farr
2003: David King
2002: Russell Gray
2001: David King
Panel:
The Awards Panel consisted of: Iwan Fox (Editor 4BR); Malcolm Wood (Chief Contributor); Andrew Wainwright (Writer/Composer/Arranger/Graphic Designer/Journalist); Gordon Simpson (statistician Brass Band World magazine); Chris Thomas (Chief Contributor Brass Band World magazine); Kenny Crookston (CEO, Brass Bands England); Frode Rydland (EBBA Music Commission/soprano cornet Bjorsvik Brass); David Hirst (Conductor/Association of Brass Band Adjudicators); Alexander Zwann (Chief contributor CU Brass); Tom Davoren (conductor/composer); Tim Mutum (writer/brass band recording and history specialist); Owen Melhuish (President: North Shore Brass New Zealand); David Gallaher (Director of Air Force Music — Royal New Zealand Air Force Band)
